Who is Smit Machchhar and what happened on Flydubai FZ1073?
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot from Mumbai, became the focus of international attention after a serious incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The Boeing 737 was carrying 174 people when, according to Israeli authorities and reports from major news agencies, Machchhar was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight. The aircraft subsequently experienced a sharp loss of altitude and was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to activate the cockpit door mechanism. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit and restrain the attacker. Two other Flydubai pilots who were travelling as passengers subsequently helped take control of the aircraft, which landed safely at Tabuk Airport.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said Machchhar was in stable condition and that officials were in contact with his family and Saudi authorities.
The incident has prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack. Israeli authorities have said the co-pilot was suspected of attempting to crash the aircraft, although investigations into the motive and other details are continuing.
Smit Machchhar's aviation career and SpiceJet background
Machchhar did not initially plan to become a pilot. Reuters reports that he studied textile engineering before pursuing management studies in Mumbai. At around 19, he attended an aviation seminar that changed his career plans, eventually leading him to train as a pilot in New Zealand.
He subsequently joined SpiceJet and spent about 11 years with the airline, rising to the position of line training captain. He joined Flydubai in 2022 and has built extensive experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft. Reuters and AP report that his career includes nearly 9,750 flying hours.
His former employer SpiceJet publicly praised his actions following the incident, expressing pride in his response during the emergency.
Machchhar's aviation philosophy has also attracted attention. In an earlier interview cited by Reuters, he spoke about prioritising passenger safety over keeping to a schedule and treating safety as the first responsibility of a pilot.
Leaders and passengers praise Indian pilot
The incident generated reactions in India, Israel and beyond. Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly praised Machchhar's courage and said his actions helped save lives and avert a major tragedy. The Prime Minister also expressed his wishes for the captain's recovery.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar, describing his actions as extraordinary bravery and saying the captain helped prevent a catastrophic incident involving the passengers on board.
Social media users in Israel also shared messages thanking the Indian pilot. Videos and posts praising Machchhar spread online after details of the incident became known.
